EU and US Re-Arming the PA as Terrorists Offered Jobs

In a move that has raised eyebrows across Israel, even amongst proponents of the ‘Road Map,’ European countries and the United States have begun to re-arm the Palestinian security forces.

First Publish: 6/8/2003, 12:03 AM

In a move that has raised eyebrows across Israel, even amongst proponents of the ‘Road Map,’ European countries and the United States have begun to re-arm the Palestinian security forces, members of which have murdered hundreds of Israelis during the Oslo War.

The PA is preparing to receive European and U.S. police equipment to "rebuild a strong Palestinian police force," sources within the PA told Haaretz on Thursday.

The sources claimed that the aim of receiving such equipment is to rehabilitate the various PA security apparatuses for implementation of the security requirements called for in the ‘Road Map.’

The equipment is to include jeeps and special riot-control vehicles, shields and helmets. Handguns will also be included. Most of the equipment is waiting at Israeli passages to be allowed into the PA.

An intensive movement of police forces was seen in the streets of Gaza areas still under the control of PA security forces, as various militias were seen moving around Gaza.

Security sources report preparations to build up a new Central Security Force, adding that officers in the force are being prepared to handle riots or civil disturbances. The sources said that the force would have special uniforms and special weapons and equipment from both Europe and the United States.

Officials in the PA and members of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terror organization - an offshoot of Yasser Arafat's own Fatah terror forces - said over the weekend that a program had been initiated by PA chief of security Mohammed Dahlan in which members’ weapons would we bought from them and they would be offered jobs in the new Central Security Force.

An Al-Aqsa leader said Dahlan is offering $6,000 - more than twice the black market value - for each rifle. Dahlan also offered a signup bonus of at least $6,000 to Al-Aqsa members who join the security forces, members of the terror organization told Haaretz.

Those amounts are enormous in the West Bank and Gaza, where a teacher makes about $330 a month, and unemployment is over 50 percent.